Li Guangi was just thinking about how to calm himself down when he saw the sleeve peeking out from Xie Wangze’s wide robe.
He looked at it carefully, and his expression changed. He abruptly turned to Chu Yunge and gesticulated anxiously in inquiry.
“I don’t understand your sign language, but you’re worried about this princess, right? It’s fine. I ran into a bit of trouble, but luckily resolved it.”
But Li Guangi’s face was still full of worry.
Chu Yunge’s status was noble; how could an ordinary person dare lay hands on her?
“Really, it’s nothing. I encountered a beast, and only my clothes got torn. Nothing else happened.” She spread her hands. “No hugging, no kissing—surely you can relax now.”
Yet Li Guangi’s expression grew even uglier, his face taut. He took out paper and pen to ask: “Who was it? What about Young Master Xie?”
Her clothes had been torn—how could that count as nothing?
Young Master Xie had barged in that day to go with her, but he was just a male favorite with no right to compete.
Yet he had followed the princess there, so he should have protected her well. Instead, someone had torn the princess’s clothes.
A young girl having her clothes torn…
Chu Yunge glanced over. Li Guangi’s writing was a bit messy and heavy, the words seemingly laced with killing intent.
Li Guangi usually looked harmless and easily shy, but this was the first time she saw him with a stern face and sharp gaze.
Chu Yunge tilted her head. “So angry? Do you want to avenge this princess?”
Li Guangi nodded without hesitation. Treating a woman like that was contemptible, let alone when the person was… the princess.
“Thank you for the sentiment, but no need. You’re not skilled in martial arts; this princess will handle the revenge herself. Besides, Yan Feng already chopped off half of that beast’s thing.”
It took Li Guangi a moment to react to what “chopped off half” meant.
He clenched his fists. No wonder the princess had praised Yan Feng earlier; Yan Feng was indeed capable.
His own skills weren’t as good as Yan Feng’s. He could only wait for a chance in the future to outsmart them and chop off the beast’s other half.
A gentleman took revenge, even if it took ten years. The future was long; there would be opportunities.
It was just that the princess hadn’t said who it was. Later, he would pay more attention. Anyone daring to lay hands on the princess must have some status, which explained why she didn’t want him involved.
The princess wanted to protect him; he couldn’t disappoint her.
With that thought, Li Guangi slowly unclenched his fists and nodded obediently.
He didn’t stubbornly insist on revenge despite knowing his own limits in strength—this point satisfied Chu Yunge.
Li Guangi keenly noticed that Chu Yunge’s lips were a bit dry and hurriedly poured her a cup of tea.
This was the most he could do for her at the moment.
Chu Yunge was thirsty and drank it down. Looking into Li Guangi’s worried eyes, she asked,
“You care about me so much—why?”
Li Guangi nodded. Of course he cared; as for why, naturally because… she was now his employer.
Chu Yunge didn’t actually want an answer and was satisfied just seeing him nod.
“Since you care so much, kiss me.”
Li Guangi’s head snapped up, his gaze involuntarily falling to her lips. The red lips moistened by tea seemed to scald him; he quickly lowered his eyes.
His heart, which had only just calmed, pounded wildly again, even more fiercely than before.
The so-called employer was instantly flung to the nine heavens beyond the clouds.
Chu Yunge watched as Li Guangi’s eyelashes trembled, his hands and feet at a loss, his whole body tense and shy, even his ears turning red.
But he still stepped forward, drew close to Chu Yunge, then closed his eyes, lowered his head, and bravely pecked her lips.
Like a dragonfly skimming water, touching and retreating at once.
Yet it was like dropping water into hot oil, frying Li Guangi all over with crackling sounds.
He completely forgot that ordinary people didn’t casually kiss their employers.
He also forgot that if an ordinary employer made such a demand, the listener would explode—with rage.
Unfortunately, the clever Li Guangi’s mind was blank at the moment, unable to think of this logic.
After straightening up and retreating a step, his brain was filled with mad thoughts like ‘I kissed the princess,’ ‘The princess’s lips are so soft,’ ‘I’m going crazy.’ He didn’t even dare look at Chu Yunge.
His retreat blocked the figure at the door.
Qingchen had been copying scriptures and chanting sutras for the dead maidservant to help her soul pass on; he hadn’t deliberately inquired about Chu Yunge’s news.
But the Shadow Guards had been secretly punished, and the bodyguards had self-punished with planks for failing to protect Chu Yunge—this still let Qingchen know that something had happened to her.
Upon hearing the news, he hurried over, only to witness the intimacy between Chu Yunge and Li Guangi.
Qingchen had heard of Li Guangi and knew he was the male favorite Chu Yunge had recently taken a liking to.
What a male favorite meant went without saying.
But Qingchen had never seen Li Guangi and Chu Yunge so intimate before.
Since he was a male favorite, it was normal. If it had been before, he would have thought ‘don’t look if it’s improper’ and avoided it—this time too.
Yet for some reason, this time his retreat carried a hint of panic.
His eyes didn’t feel comfortable, as if stung.
He rubbed his eyes and waved at the maidservant, signaling her not to make a sound.
He had come at a bad time; as a monk, he shouldn’t watch such a scene.
Qingchen’s footsteps quickened. A voice in his heart kept telling him that he and the princess were ultimately not the same kind of people.
He shouldn’t hold any special expectations toward the princess just because of her earlier words.
When the princess said he smelled nice and interacted with him, she probably just treated him as a male favorite too.
And he was a monk.
Chu Yunge didn’t notice Qingchen had come, because at this moment, her eyes held only Li Guangi.
“Not bad. We’ll practice more in the future, and you won’t be so nervous.”
She reached out and pulled Li Guangi back. “You don’t know, when I was in trouble today, your face flashed in my mind. I thought I hadn’t even eaten you yet—full of reluctance.”
Li Guangi looked at the close-up Chu Yunge and heard these words; his head spun, heat rising until he felt like he would smoke.
Chu Yunge reached out and touched Li Guangi’s face. “Blushing again. Now I finally know what ‘face like a blooming peach flower’ means.”
Under the lamplight, the beauty grew more captivating the longer one looked.
“Young Master, you’re so handsome and endearing; this princess can’t get enough of you. What crime is this?”
Li Guangi opened his mouth and silently called out: “Your Highness.”
This appearance only made hearts itch more.
Chu Yunge raised her hand, wrapped it around his neck, tugged lightly, tilted her head up, and kissed him hard.
Because of the force, it even made a sound.
Chu Yunge let go and stopped. “Not being able to speak must be inconvenient and leaves you open to bullying. Later, I’ll have the imperial physician check you out.”
Li Guangi nodded, a hint of hope in his eyes. Though his mother had tried everything when he was young and consulted many famous doctors without success, they hadn’t been qualified to summon an imperial physician back then.
He silently mouthed an apology.
“No need to be polite.” Chu Yunge tapped his lips. “This is what this princess should do anyway.”
They said she doted on Li Guangi, and she did quite like him; she should have arranged this sooner.
“I’ll have someone inquire and find the best one for muteness to treat you.”
Li Guangi nodded obediently again, feeling that the princess’s kindness was too great to repay—saving his sister and now curing his illness.
After a thought, he hurriedly went to massage Chu Yunge.
This was the only thing he could do for her.
But as soon as he touched her shoulder, Chu Yunge hissed: “Shoulder got bumped.”
Li Guangi, who was worrying, then saw Chu Yunge gather her long, waist-length black hair from behind to the front, revealing her fragrant shoulder slightly.
Exquisite and alluring posture, striking at the heart.